On the Hunt

“You have no idea how much restraint I’ve already used up since you came into my life,” Harlan said wryly.

She nodded. “Yes, I do. And there have been times when I haven’t been kind or understanding when you got in my way. I have a tendency in that direction, but I’m trying to make up for it. Can you help me do that?”

He shook his head ruefully. “I don’t know why, but I’ll do my best. It seems to be my fate in life.”

“That’s good.” She got to her feet. “Now I’m going to my tent to get some sleep.”

“You’re sleeping out here with the rest of us peons? You don’t have your own place on the island?”

“Of course I do. But it’s a fairly small apartment, and the visitor accommodations are full right now. It felt wrong for me to stay in my apartment while you and Fiona rough it in the tent village.”

“It’s hardly ‘roughing it.’ Fiona will consider it an adventure. And I’ve always rather enjoyed the camping experience. Certainly more than I’ll enjoy navigating the feelings of your old friend Kalim.”

She stood up. “It really will be fine, Harlan. I wouldn’t let anything happen to you.”

“That’s comforting to know.” He took her arm and walked with her and Mack to her tent. “Because you’ll have one more day to show off the horses and set up the training barriers and schedules with the dogs before we leave here tomorrow night. After that, I’ll make final plans to move camp to go visit our new friend Kalim. You don’t mind if I take Mack when I go check the sentries tonight? I’ll be sure to bring him back to you when I’ve finished.”

“No, of course not. Mack will enjoy it. He hasn’t done any real work since the night on the cliffs.” She shivered. “And I don’t like to remember that night. Though I can’t ever forget how Mack looked crawling toward me after he was shot.”

“Neither can I. I promise to bring him back to you in great shape this time.” He whistled for Mack as he turned to go down the hill. “And you don’t have to worry. I’ve assigned an expert crew to monitor your tent area while you’re here on Summer Island.”

She watched his flashlight spear the darkness as he headed down toward the clinic where they’d left Sarah. “I’m not worried,” she called as she heard Mack bark eagerly. It was true. There was no fear, but she felt oddly alone staying here when she felt she should be out there with Mack, doing her job.

Should she go after them? No, that wouldn’t be either efficient or businesslike. Just keep an eye out in case of trouble…

“No problems,” Captain Darue reported to Harlan as he bent to stroke the head of the retriever. “Mrs. Logan only opened the door about an hour ago to give me a cup of coffee and told me that she was retiring for the night. Nice woman.”

“Yes, she is. Did you get any reports from anyone else making their rounds?”

“Gregot said he thought he heard sounds from the bridge area, but he hadn’t gotten around to checking it out yet, so I may go up there myself and see if it’s worth sending up another few men.”

“I thought I heard something in that direction, too, before I reached the clinic.” Harlan smiled. “But I thought I identified what I was hearing after a few minutes.”

“You want me to check it out?”

“No, I want you to stay here and make sure Sarah Logan stays safe. I’ll go up to the bridge myself and take care of any problem.”

“Not your problem, sir,” Darue said. “Let me call someone to assist.”

Harlan shook his head. “I’m not expecting a full-scale assault. I don’t believe Taylor would dare bring anything resembling a heavy force to this island after he saw how many of your men were occupying it.” He took out his phone. “I’ll call Belson instead. I told him when I talked to him before supper that he should scout around the island and see if he found anything interesting going on. By now, I’ll bet that he’s as bored as I am and just as eager to be productive.”

“And what do you believe is happening on that bridge?” Darue asked curiously.

“What I said. Nothing for you to worry about, but maybe enough to be interesting…”

CHAPTER

8

Ten minutes later, Harlan adjusted his earpiece as he walked through the trees. “I’m just clearing the tent city. Can everybody read me?”

“Go back to bed,” a familiar voice said. It was Belson. “We’ve got this covered.”

Harlan could hear chuckling from several others on their frequency. “But I’m not sleepy,” Harlan said.

“Then go back to your tent and broker a few deals or whatever it is you billionaires do,” Belson said. “I really don’t have time to coach you right now. I’m here with most of your security detail, and the island’s security team is out in full force. We got this.”

Harlan chuckled. “I’m sure you do. But pardon me if I want to take a look for myself.”